Carboard packer, and a blank picker for a cardboard packer

ABSTRACT

A cardboard packer is provided, comprising a blank magazine, a blank feeder, and a blank picker for transporting a single blank from the magazine to the feeder. The blank picker comprises an upper picking unit configured to attach to an upper portion of the blank, and a bottom picking unit configured to attach to a bottom portion of the blank.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a cardboard packer, in particular to acardboard packer for producing boxes, trays, and/or wrap-around unitsfor a plurality of carton packages. The invention also relates to ablank picker for such cardboard packer, as well as to a method for acardboard packer.

BACKGROUND ART

Individual packaging containers, such as liquid food packagingcontainers, are typically produced from a carton-based material andfilled using a high-speed filling machine. When the filled, formed, andsealed packaging containers are unloaded from the filling machine theyare transferred to a cardboard packer in which a predetermined number ofpackaging containers are stacked in a packing pattern and placed in acase made from a cardboard blank.

The case, which may be in the form of a box, a tray, or a wrap-aroundunit is produced by folding the blank; the blank may e.g. be formed bycutting a corrugated cardboard sheet or the like into a predeterminedshape. The shape of the blank varies in accordance with the dimensionand number of packaging containers to be placed in the case, and themanner of packaging. In the case of a tray blank, the blank sheet has ashape to cover two opposing side surfaces of a group of packagingcontainers which have been stacked on the blank sheet in a predeterminedpacking pattern. In the case of a wrap-around blank, the blank sheet hasa shape to wholly cover a group of packaging containers which have beenstacked on the blank sheet in a predetermined packing pattern.

The cardboard packer is provided with a blank magazine, and a blankpicker which takes out a single blank at a time from the magazine,typically using a suction force. After picking the blank, it is receivedby a feeder configured to fold and transport the blank. Subsequently, agroup of packaging containers which have been conveyed by a conveyor isplaced on the blank, and the blank is formed into a cardboard packageenclosing or carrying the packaging containers.

Correct positioning of the blank relative the feeder is of highimportance in order to obtain correctly shaped and dimensioned cardboardpackages, and consequently also correct handling and storage of theindividual packaging containers.

There is thus a need for an improved cardboard packer, and in particularfor an improved blank picker, allowing for improved positioning of thecardboard blank in the feeder.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the invention to at least partly overcome one or moreof the above-identified limitations of the prior art. In particular, itis an object to provide a cardboard packer which improves thepositioning of the blank by reducing the risk for unpredictablemovements of the blank e.g. caused by two adjacent blanks being stuck toeach other in the magazine either because of two high pressure acting onthem or one of the blanks being damaged and sticking to its neighbor.

According to a first aspect, a cardboard packer is provided. Thecardboard packer comprises a blank magazine, a blank feeder, and a blankpicker for transporting a single blank from the magazine to the feeder,wherein the blank picker comprises an upper picking unit configured toattach to an upper portion of the blank, and a bottom picking unitconfigured to attach to a bottom portion of the blank. Being able topull the blank from the upper portion as well as from the bottom portionhas proven to greatly improve positioning of the blank, especiallyduring the initial motion of the blank when being released from themagazine.

In an embodiment the bottom picking unit comprises at least twospaced-apart picking devices. The picking devices of the bottom pickingunit may be distributed horizontally, whereby fixation of the blank isimproved especially for large size blanks.

The picking devices of the bottom picking unit may be distributed toattach to a respective bottom corner of the blank. The blank may therebybe pulled from the bottom corners, which reduces unpredictable movementof the blank due to pressure difference between the atmosphere and thearea between two adjacent blanks.

The upper picking unit and/or the bottom picking unit may be configuredto attach to the blank by applying suction force. Thereby a simpleconstruction may be implemented.

The cardboard packer may further comprise a control unit connected to atleast the bottom picking unit for activating the bottom picking unit.The control unit may be programmed to activate the bottom picking unitaccording to a first actuation scheme, whereby the first actuationscheme is different from a second actuation scheme used to activate theupper picking unit. Individual control of the upper and bottom pickingunits may reduce the complexity of the cardboard packer, as the bottompicking unit may be used to move the blank away from the magazineinstead of providing full transport to the feeder.

The second actuation scheme may be designed to activate the upperpicking unit during full transport of the blank from the magazine to thefeeder, while the first actuation scheme is designed to activate thebottom picking unit during initial transport of the blank from themagazine towards the feeder.

According to a second aspect, a blank picker for transporting a singleblank from a magazine to a feeder of a cardboard packer is provided. Theblank picker comprises an upper picking unit configured to attach to anupper portion of the blank, and a bottom picking unit configured toattach to a bottom portion of the blank.

According to a third aspect, a method for transporting a blank from afrom a magazine to a feeder of a cardboard packer is provided. Themethod comprises arranging a blank picker in close proximity to a blankof the magazine, activating the blank picker such that an upper pickingunit of the blank picker attaches to an upper portion of the blank, anda bottom picking unit of the blank picker attaches to a bottom portionof the blank, moving the blank picker towards the feeder, andde-activating the blank picker when the blank is arranged at the feeder.

De-activating the blank picker may comprise de-activating the bottompicking unit before de-activating the upper picking unit.

Activating the blank picker may be performed such that the upper pickingunit attaches to the upper portion of the blank simultaneously as thebottom picking unit attaches to the bottom portion of the blank.

Still other objectives, features, aspects and advantages of theinvention will appear from the following detailed description as well asfrom the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example,with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a cardboard packer according to anembodiment;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a cardboard package produced by acardboard packer;

FIGS. 3 a-d are schematic side views of parts of a cardboard packer,showing the operating sequence of a blank picker according to anembodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a method for a cardboard packer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIG. 1 a cardboard packer 10 is illustrated. Thecardboard packer 10 is configured to transform a cardboard blank to acardboard package, as will be explained in the following.

The cardboard packer 10 is fed with a blanks magazine 12. The magazine12 contains a number of separate blanks, stacked on top of each other inthe magazine 12. The cardboard packer 10 is also receiving a flow ofindividual packaging containers 14, such as carton packaging containers14 filled with a liquid food product or other suitable content, may itbe in solid form or in liquid form.

The cardboard packer 10 comprises a blank picker 100 which is configuredto access the magazine 12 and grip one blank at the time, and to movethe blank from the magazine 12 to a blank feeder 20. The blank feeder 20is preferably configured to perform initial folding and forming of theblank towards the final cardboard package 30. Hence, the feeder 20 is insome way configured to also receive the carton packaging containers 14,and to arrange them within the cardboard package 30.

As is clear from FIG. 1 , the cardboard packer 10 also includes acontrol unit 40 for controlling the operation of the blank picker 100.

In FIG. 2 a cardboard package 30 is shown. The cardboard package 30 isrepresenting one example of how a blank can be formed into an enclosingstructure for a plurality of individual packaging containers 14 (in thisexample 24 pieces).

Now turning to FIGS. 3 a-d , the blank picker 100 will be described inmore details. The blank picker 100 has a vertical extension andcomprises an upper picking unit 110 and a bottom picking unit 120. Theupper picking unit 110 is arranged to attach to an upper portion of theblank, while the bottom picking unit 120 is arranged to attach to thebottom portion of the blank.

As can be seen the magazine 12 is somewhat slanted. The exactorientation of the magazine 12 may vary, as well as the exact number ofblanks contained in said magazine 12. The position of the magazine 12may be adjustable in the vertical direction, such as adjustable in theplane of the blanks.

Since the magazine 12 is in a raised position, the load imposed on thefront blank can be reduced, thereby facilitating the taking out of theblank by the blank picker 100.

The upper picking unit 110 is arranged on a guide 112 configured to movethe upper picking unit 110, and in particular one or more pickingdevices 114 of the upper picking unit 110, from the magazine 12 to thefeeder 20.

In a similar manner the bottom picking unit 120 is arranged on a guide122 configured to move the bottom picking unit 120, and in particularone or more picking devices 124 of the bottom picking unit 120, from themagazine 12 towards the feeder 20.

Preferably, at least the bottom picking unit 120 comprises two or morepicking devices 124 distributed horizontally; in one preferredembodiment there is one picking device 124 arranged to attach to onebottom corner of the blank, while another picking device 124 is arrangedto attach to the other bottom corner of the blank. One or more pickingdevices 124 may be arranged between the “corner” picking devices 124.

As can be seen in FIG. 3 a , the upper picking unit 110 and the bottompicking unit 120 are both arranged at the magazine 12, at an idleposition in which the picking units 110, 120 are ready to be activatedin order to grip a blank from the magazine 12.

Activation of the picking units 110, 120 is performed by one or morecontrol signals of the control unit 40 (see FIG. 1 ). In one embodiment,each picking device 114, 124 is a suction device, e.g. including one ormore cups connected to a vacuum pump or similar. Once the suctiondevices are in contact with the blank, and once the vacuum pump isapplying the suction force, the blank will be held by the pickingdevices 114, 124.

As soon as the picking devices 114, 124 are activated and gripping theblank, the picking units 110, 120 start to move towards the feeder 20.Upon this movement the gripped blank 50 will be released from themagazine 12, as indicated in FIG. 3 b . As the blank 50 is held at itsupper portion (by means of the upper picking unit 110) as well as at itsbottom portion (by means of the bottom picking unit 120) there is a lessrisk that a the released blank 50 will be stuck to its adjacent blank ofthe magazine 12, thereby causing an unintentional and undesired movementof the blank 50 relative the picking units 110, 120. Hence, the correctposition of the blank 50 during its movement to the feeder 20 isensured.

The main purpose of the bottom picking unit 120 is to provide robustnessto the initial motion of the blank 50, i.e. when it is released from themagazine 12. However, due to some irregularities immediately when theblank 50 is released the bottom picking unit 120 may maintain its gripof the blank 50 for some time during transport towards the feeder 20.

As is shown in FIG. 3 c the blank 50 is held by both gripping units 110,120 for some additional movement towards the feeder 20. However, at theposition shown in FIG. 3 c , the bottom gripping unit 120 may bede-activated whereby the upper picking unit 110 will be responsible forholding the blank 50 for the remaining transport to the feeder 20. Thebottom picking unit 120 is preferably stopped at this position, wherebyone or more guides (not shown) cause the blank 50 to be tilted andthereafter free to pass over the bottom picking unit 120.

In FIG. 3 d , the blank 50 has returned to its (almost) verticalposition and engages with the feeder 20. An additional movement of theblank 50 in the direction towards the feeder 20 will eventually causeone or more fins 22 of the feeder 50 to grip the blank 50 and causeinitial folding of the blank 50.

In accordance with the sequence shown in FIGS. 3 a-d , the control unit40 is programmed to activate the bottom picking unit 120 according to afirst actuation scheme, i.e. for how long the suction force is to beapplied in terms of time and/or movement. As explained, the firstactuation scheme is typically different from a second actuation schemeused to activate the upper picking unit 110. While the second actuationscheme, i.e. how the upper gripping unit 110 is activated, is designedto activate the upper picking unit 110 during full transport of theblank 50 from the magazine 12 to the feeder 20, the first actuationscheme, i.e. how the bottom gripping unit 120 is activated, is designedto activate the bottom picking unit 120 only during initial transport ofthe blank 50 from the magazine 12 towards the feeder 20.

After delivering the blank 50 to the feeder 20, the blank picker 100,i.e. the upper picking unit 110 as well as the bottom picking unit 120,is returned to its gripping position shown in FIG. 3 a . Hence, the samesequence can be repeated for the next blank of the magazine 12.

Now turning to FIG. 4 , a method 200 is schematically shown. The method200 is performed for transporting a blank 50 from a magazine 12 to afeeder 20 of a cardboard packer 10 as has been explained above. Inparticular, the method 200 comprises a first step 202 of arranging ablank picker 100 in close proximity to a blank 50 of the magazine 12,and a step 204 of activating the blank picker 100 such that an upperpicking unit 110 of the blank picker 100 attaches to an upper portion ofthe blank 50, and such that a bottom picking unit 120 of the blankpicker 100 attaches to a bottom portion of the blank 50.

The method 200 continues by a step 206 of moving the blank picker 100towards the feeder 20, and a final step 208 of de-activating the blankpicker 100 when the blank 50 is arranged at the feeder 20.

The final step 208 of de-activating the blank picker 100 is preferablyperformed such that the bottom picking unit 120 is de-activated beforethe upper picking unit 110.

Yet further, the step 204 of activating the blank picker is preferablyperformed such that the upper picking unit 110 attaches to the upperportion of the blank 50 simultaneously as the bottom picking unit 120attaches to the bottom portion of the blank 50.

From the description above follows that, although various embodiments ofthe invention have been described and shown, the invention is notrestricted thereto, but may also be embodied in other ways within thescope of the subject-matter defined in the following claims.

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 15. A cardboardpacker, comprising a blank magazine, a blank feeder, and a blank pickerfor transporting a single blank from the magazine to the feeder, whereinthe blank picker comprises an upper picking unit configured to attach toan upper portion of the blank, and a bottom picking unit configured toattach to a bottom portion of the blank.
 16. The cardboard packeraccording to claim 15, wherein the upper picking unit is located at afirst height along a vertical direction, and the bottom picking unit islocated at a second height along said vertical direction, the firstheight being higher than the second height.
 17. The cardboard packeraccording to claim 16, wherein the blank magazine is oriented along aslanted plane, which is slanted with respect to the vertical direction.18. The cardboard packer according to claim 15, wherein the bottompicking unit comprises at least one picking device.
 19. The cardboardpacker according to claim 16, wherein the picking device is configuredto grip the bottom portion of the blank.
 20. The cardboard packeraccording to claim 15, wherein the bottom picking unit (120) comprisesat least a first picking device and a second picking device, the firstand the second picking devices being spaced-apart from each other. 21.The cardboard packer according to claim 18, wherein the first pickingdevice and the second picking device of the bottom picking unit arespaced apart along a horizontal direction perpendicular to a weightforce.
 22. The cardboard packer according to claim 18, wherein the firstpicking device and the second picking device of the bottom picking unitare configured to grip a first bottom corner and a second bottom cornerof the blank, respectively.
 23. The cardboard packer according to claim15, wherein the upper picking unit is movable on an upper guide from afirst position, in which it is configured to grip the upper portion ofthe blank from the magazine, to a second position, in which it isconfigured to release the blank to the feeder.
 24. The cardboard packeraccording to claim 23, wherein the bottom picking unit is movable on anupper guide from a third position in which it is configured to grip thebottom portion of the blank from the magazine to a fourth position inwhich it is configured to release the blank, wherein the fourth positionof the bottom picking unit is upstream of the third position of theupper picking unit, along a path travelled by the blank.
 25. Thecardboard packer according to claim 15, wherein the upper picking unitand the bottom picking unit are configured to grip the blank by applyinga suction force.
 26. The cardboard packer cording to claim 25, furthercomprising a vacuum pump, wherein each of the upper picking unit and thebottom picking unit includes one or more cups connected to the vacuumpump.
 27. The cardboard packer according to claim 15, further comprisinga control unit connected to at least the bottom picking unit foractivating the bottom picking unit.
 28. The cardboard packer accordingto claim 27, wherein the control unit is programmed to activate thebottom picking unit according to a first actuation scheme, wherein thecontrol unit is programmed to activate the upper picking unit accordingto a second actuation scheme, whereby the first actuation scheme isdifferent from the second actuation scheme.
 29. The cardboard packeraccording to claim 28, wherein the second actuation scheme is designedto keep the upper picking unit activated along all the path travelled bythe blank from the magazine to the feeder, while the first actuationscheme is designed to keep the bottom picking unit activated only alongan initial portion of the path travelled by the blank from the magazinetowards the feeder.
 30. The cardboard packer according to claim 29,wherein the first actuation scheme is configured to activate the bottompicking unit to pick up the blank at the magazine and to deactivate thebottom picking unit when the blank is at an intermediate positionbetween the magazine and the feeder, said intermediate position beingdistanced both from the magazine and from the feeder.
 31. A blank pickerfor transporting a single blank from a magazine to a feeder of acardboard packer, comprising an upper picking unit configured to attachto an upper portion of the blank, and a bottom picking unit configuredto attach to a bottom portion of the blank.
 32. A method fortransporting a blank from a magazine to a feeder of a cardboard packer,comprising: arranging a blank picker in close proximity to a blankstored in the magazine, activating the blank picker such that an upperpicking unit of the blank picker grips an upper portion of the blank,and a bottom picking unit of the blank picker grips a bottom portion ofthe blank, moving the blank picker towards the feeder, and de-activatingthe blank picker when the blank is located at the feeder.
 33. The methodaccording to claim 32, wherein de-activating the blank picker comprisesde-activating the bottom picking unit and de-activating the upperpicking unit, wherein the bottom picking unit is de-activated beforede-activating the upper picking unit.
 34. The method according to claim32, wherein the upper picking unit grips the upper portion of the blanksimultaneously as the bottom picking unit grips the bottom portion ofthe blank.